down, that I could not get up but by a ladder; and my wife not being well she kept her chamber all this day.  To the Dolphin to a dinner of Mr. Harris’s, where Sir Williams both and my Lady Batten, and her two daughters, and other company, where a great deal of mirth, and there staid till 11 o’clock at night; and in our mirth I sang and sometimes fiddled (there being a noise of fiddlers there), and at last we fell to dancing, the first time that ever I did in my life, which I did wonder to see myself to do.  At last we made Mingo, Sir W. Batten’s black, and Jack, Sir W. Pen’s, dance, and it was strange how the first did dance with a great deal of seeming skill.  Home, where I found my wife all day in her chamber.  So to bed.

28th.  Up early among my workmen, then Mr. Creed coming to see me I went along with him to Sir Robert Slingsby (he being newly maister of that title by being made a Baronett) to discourse about Mr. Creed’s accounts to be made up, and from thence by coach to my cozen Thomas Pepys, to borrow L1000 for my Lord, which I am to expect an answer to tomorrow.  So to my Lord’s, and there staid and dined, and after dinner did get my Lord to view Mr. Shepley’s accounts as I had examined them, and also to sign me a bond for my L500.  Then with Mr. Shepley to the Theatre and saw “Rollo” ill acted.  That done to drink a cup of ale and so by coach to London, and having set him down in Cheapside I went home, where I found a great deal of work done to-day, and also L70 paid me by the Treasurer upon the bill of exchange that I have had hopes of so long, so that, my heart in great content; I went to bed.

29th.  Up among my workmen with great pleasure.  Then to the office, where I found Sir W. Pen sent down yesterday to Chatham to get two great ships in readiness presently to go to the East Indies upon some design against the Dutch, we think, at Goa but it is a great secret yet.  Dined at home, came Mr. Shepley and Moore, and did business with both of them.  After that to Sir W. Batten’s, where great store of company at dinner.  Among others my schoolfellow, Mr. Christmas, where very merry, and hither came letters from above for the fitting of two other ships for the East Indies in all haste, and so we got orders presently for the Hampshire and Nonsuch.  Then home and there put some papers in order, and not knowing what to do, the house being so dirty, I went to bed.

30th.  At the office we and Sir W. Rider to advise what sort of provisions to get ready for these ships going to the Indies.  Then the Comptroller and I by water to Mr. Coventry, and there discoursed upon the same thing.  So to my coz.  Tho.  Pepys, and got him to promise me L1,000 to lend my Lord upon his and my uncle Robert’s and my security.  So to my Lord’s, and there got him to sign a bond to him, which I also signed too, and he did sign counter security to us both.  Then into London up and down and drank a pint of wine with Mr. Creed, and so home and sent a letter and the bonds to my uncle to sign for my Lord.  This day I spoke with Dr. Castle about making up the dividend for the last quarter, and agreed to meet about it on Monday.